Former President Donald Trump held a star-studded campaign rally at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, making his closing argument to the American people just nine days before Election Day.
“Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” Trump asked, to which his supporters responded in a chorus of “No!”
The former president used his campaign stop at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” to announce a new proposal of tax credit for caretakers who take care of family or a loved one. He repeated calls to seek the death penalty for illegal immigrants who are guilty of murdering American citizens and to ban all sanctuary cities.
Trump also touted his recent endorsements from Muslim leaders in Michigan, and promised he will bring an end to the ongoing wars in other parts of the world.
“The Republican Party has really become the party of inclusion, and there’s something really nice about that,” Trump told the sold out crowd, citing support from Catholics, Jews, Mormons, and Evangelicals. “They’re all joining our cause in large numbers.”
Trump also clarified that his plan to write off car loan interest tax, which he introduced earlier this month, will only apply to cars manufactured in America.
Trump thanked New York City Mayor Eric Adams after Adams said he didn’t believe Trump should be called a fascist.
“He said that they shouldn’t be calling Trump a dictator because it’s not true. That’s nice. That was nice. Very Nice. So we want to thank Mayor Adams,” Trump said at the rally.
Adams made the comment after Vice President Kamala Harris and her surrogates criticized Trump in recent days after Trump’s former chief of staff John Kelly accused him of praising Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Germany dictator’s generals. Trump and previous members of his administration have fiercely opposed the claims made by Kelly.
Tech mogul Elon Musk, who spoke earlier and introduced former First Lady Melania Trump, was a prominent part of Trump’s closing campaign message. The former president called Musk “a genius” and “special.”
Musk, the CEO of Tesla, the biggest auto manufacturer in the world, told rallygoers that a second Trump administration will “get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook.”
Musk is expected to be involved with a proposed “Department of Government Efficiency,” a commission that would aim to reduce what the Trump administration deems to be unnecessary federal government spending.
Other speakers at the rally included Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, UFC CEO Dana White, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, Dr. Phil McGraw, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and billionaire Howard Lutnick.
Entry to the event was free, with the campaign covering the costs to rent the arena. Tens of thousands were turned away, unable to get inside once the arena reached max capacity.
Crowds who couldn’t get in flocked to local bars, restaurants, and outdoor screens to catch the rally program.
A Jewish Trump-supporting fashion designer, Elie Balleh, said he is worried that the American retail industry is going to be hit hard if the status quo of economic policies continue.
“For the past four years, ever since the Democrats took office, you see big companies shut down, one after the other—like a domino effect,” Balleh told NTD News.
Balleh also said he isn’t surprised to see such massive support for Trump on the streets of New York City.
“I live in Brooklyn. Most of Brooklyn is pro-Trump,” Balleh said. “I took the train here because I knew it was going to be a madhouse.”
Chris Indellicoti said he supports the former president because he believes Trump is the only presidential candidate who “has the American people’s best interest at heart.”
New York is as deep blue as it gets, and alongside California, is considered one of the biggest longshots for Republicans.
The Republicans haven’t won the Empire State since President Ronald Reagan won 49 out of 50 states in 1984’s contest.
Trump has repeatedly expressed that he is making a play for New York, his native state.
By staging the attention-grabbing event in the world’s biggest media market, Trump could help boost Republican candidates in New York congressional races. The state has seven competitive seats that could help determine whether the party holds on to the House next year.
It could also give Trump a boost in nearby northeastern Pennsylvania, a battleground state that has increasingly become home for New York commuters.
Trump also used the stop as a major fundraising opportunity. Trump’s campaign said the event at the 19,500-seat arena was sold out.
The most recent New York polling at FiveThirtyEight has Harris beating Trump by 19 percentage points.
Early voting officially began in New York on Saturday, which was also the final day to register to vote. Election Day is Nov. 5.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.